Expert Advice

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What is the difference between Oil and Water Based products?

OIL BASED PRODUCTS give a classic, naturally oiled timber look. However, drying times are typically longer than water based coatings, and Mineral Turpentine is typically required to wash up any coating equipment. WATER BASED PRODUCTS give a slightly higher sheen than oil based products, have lower odour, and brushes and application equipment can be washed up in water. Some water based products will last longer than oil based products. In the Feast Watson range, Wet Look Deck and Decking Oil will last longer than Traditional Timber Oil (oil based).

Can I change from my existing coating to Wet Look Deck?

Timber coated with stain or oil can be coated with Wet Look Deck after the surface has weathered. Test if the surface is ready by sprinkling water onto the timber. If the water absorbs into the timber it is suitable for coating. If the water beads, further weathering, sanding or stripping is required.
Painted or varnished surfaces need to be taken back to bare timber by stripping or sanding. Prepare timber for coating with Woodclean.

What is the difference between a Decking Oil or a Decking Stain?

A DECKING OIL is designed to protect timber without dramatically changing look of timber. DECKING OIL is naturally pigmented so it will change the colour of timber slightly - you can even choose mild colours to accentuate the colour in timber species such as Merbau and Jarrah. DECKING OIL enriches timber to protect it from warping, cracking or truning grey, and is perfect for coating hardwood timber. Feast Watson has a range of DECKING OILs, including Decking Oil, Traditional Timber Oil and Wet Look Deck Look.
DECKING STAINS have higher levels of pigment than Decking Oils, so they change the colour of timber. They are righly recommended for Treated Pine, renewing the colour of grey weathered timber, and for making timber coordinate with house and landscape design. DECKING STAIN will give longer lasting protection than Decking Oil. For a deck and exterior stain that will not hide the natural character of the timber (knots and timber grain), try the semi-transparent Feast Watson Timber & Deck Stain.

What is the difference between a Wipe-on Poly and a brush-on polyurethane?

Both wipe-on and brush on polyurethanes will protect your timber, however the application and therefore the finish is different. The more traditional brush on polyurethane (Feat Watson Clear Varnish) will require two coats over previously coated timber, and three coats over bare timber. This is because you are laying a thicker coat that you would if you were wiping it on. Dry time is 8 hours, and it is important to allow the first coat to dry fully before applying a second coat (and so on).
With a wipe-on Poly, you tend to apply a thinner coat as you are applying by rag. To get the best protection, we recommend 4 to 5 coats. However, re-coat is faster (6 hours) so you will end up taking a similar amount of time to apply both finishes.
It really comes down to personal preference, the finish you are trying to achieve and your particular piece of furniture. In terms of look, a wipe-on Poly will give you a classic hand rubbed look. The wipe on application method eliminates brush and drip mark, making the wipe-on poly the best choice for contoured surfaces (such as crown molding and stair balusters) and furniture that has intricate or elaborate detailing.
The brush on method will build more on top of the surface, giving brush on polyurethane a ‘heavier’ looking finish. Two coats of brush on polyurethane will be a little bit stronger and a little bit more durable than wipe-on poly. This makes the brush-on polyurethane ideal for often handled items or items that will be exposed to heavy traffic (i.e. a kitchen table) and flat surfaces where it's important to build up a durable film.

Can I use Feast Watson Glass Finish on my interior timber floors?

No, Feast Watson Glass Finish is NOT suitable for flooring. For a super high gloss finish, use Feast Waston FloorProof Pro or for a gloss finish use Floorclear Gloss.

Is Feast Watson Glass Finish suitable for use on exterior timber?

NO. Exposure to direct sunlight may cause Glass Finish to yellow over time. The yellowing does not impact the performance of Glass Finish. However, if the yellow colouration is undesirable do not expose finished project to direct sunlight.
See Feast Watson 'How to apply Glass Finish" for detailed usage guide.

I have a small scratch in my Glass Finish. How do I repair the damage?

If light scratches occur, lightly sand the surface and reapply one coat of Glass Finish as per application instructions. If deep scratches or widespread damage occurs, sand the surface to completely remove coating and reapply one coat of Glass Finish as per the application instructions, making sure to de-gas thoroughly while coating is still liquid.

Is Feast Watson Glass Finish heat resistant? To what temperature?

Like any man made surface, temperatures over 150 C can damage or discolour Glass Finish. For this reason, we do not recommend placing objects such as a boiling hot saucepan directly onto a surface coated with Glass Finish. However, once fully cured (after 7 days) Glass Finish is unlikely to be damaged if you spill boiling water on it, or place a hot coffee mug on the surface. For this reason, hard wearing Glass Finish is ideal for bench tops or table tops subject to high wear.

What is the difference between Feast Watson Floor Paint and other ‘paints’?

Feast Watson Floor paint has been specially designed to be trafficable and provide superior mark and wear resistance. With three coats it is a durable, hard wearing floor coating. Paints like Dulux Wash & Wear or Dulux Weathershield that have been formulated for broad wall application will NOT withstand foot traffic on interior timber floors.

Can Feast Watson Floor Paint be used on concrete?

No. Floor paint is suitable for interior timber floors only.

What is the difference between Liming White Floor Finish and Liming White Stain & Varnish?

Both Liming White Floor Finish and Liming White Stain & Varnish will provide one-step ‘soft milky look’ and durable protection, whilst allowing the grain pattern of the timber to remain visible. As water based products, the finish will not yellow over time as is common with more traditional solvent based Liming solutions.
The key difference between the two liming products is that Liming White Floor Finish is specially formulated for flooring, and with three coats is a durable hard wearing floor coating. Liming White Stain & Varnish is designed for furniture and accessories. It is NOT designed to be trafficable, and NOT suitable or Flooring.

How do you repair white rings or water stains on a wooden table?

A white ring is moisture that has been absorbed by the finish. White rings generally appear when you place a hot object like a coffee cup onto a surface that has started to wear, and lost its ability to repel water. The heat from the ‘coffee cup’ softens the finish allows moisture to get into the top layer of the finish. How do you remove a white ring? If you notice the ring when it first appears, you may be able to use a hairdryer on the low/warm setting to evaporate that moisture back out. However, if the white ring has been for some time, you will need to abrade the surface of the furniture to remove it. As steel wool by itself will leave scratches, we recommend you apply one coat of Feast Watson Mastertouch Wipe-On Poly over the white ring, and then use steel wool (4-0, the finest grade available) on top of the Feast Watson Mastertouch Wipe-on Poly to lightly abrade the surface. Once the ring has started to disappeared (note: this may take repeated applications of Feast Watson Mastertouch Wipe-On Poly and steel wool, wiping off excess with a rag between coats) apply one coat of Feast Watson Mastertouch Wipe-On Poly over the entire surface of the table. This coat will protect the table and reduce the likelihood the white ring will occuring again.

How do I know whether to use a traditional oil-based stain or a water-based stain?

The decision of oil-based or water-based comes down to a number of factors.
A few you should consider before making your decision are; access to ventilation, size of project, colour and desired finish. If you are working inside and cannot ventilate well (if you do not have windows to open, for example), then water based has the advantage as it is low odour.
When you are working on large surfaces, and need a long working time, oil based stains are ideal. They tend to dry slower than water based and therefore provide a longer working time. Colour range and depth of colour should be taken into consideration.
Oil based or dye based stains (such as Feast Watson Prooftint) used undiluted tend to provide a deeper, richer colour than water based alternatives. For lighter shades, try diluting Prooftint with Colour Reducer or select from a water-based alternative.
Let your project and circumstances help you determine whether or not you're going to use water-based or oil-based stain. And to help ensure colour satisfaction, always try your selected colour and stain on an off cut or spare piece of wood to see what it will look like on your unique project and timber species.

Do I need to apply a top coat after I stain Timber?

For exterior timber, No. Feast Watson Decking Stain and Timber & Deck Stain do not require a top coat. However, for a satin or gloss finish on vertical surfaces Timber & Deck Stain can be over coated with Weatherproof Varnish (Exterior). Note: Weatherproof Varnish is NOT suitable for coating areas subject to foot traffic. For interior timber: Yes. Feast Watson Prooftint Stain does require a top coat of a clear varnish to protect the surface. Two to three coats of Feast Watson Clear Varnish clear are required for durable protection.